The Vanishing Half
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The Vanishing Half from the New York Times bestselling author of The Mothers

'The Vanishing Half is an utterly mesmerising novel. It seduces with its literary flair, surprises with its breath-taking plot twists, delights with its psychological insights, and challenges us to consider the corrupting consequences of racism on different communities and individual lives. I absolutely loved this book' Bernardine Evaristo, winner of the Booker Prize 2019 The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' story lines intersect? Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins. Praise for Brit Bennett: 'A writer to watch' Washington Post 'Bennett allows her characters to follow their worst impulses, and she handles provocative issues with intelligence, empathy and dark humour' New York Times 'A beautifully written, sad and lingering book' Guardian on The Mothers
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Reviews

Photo of Hannah Yoon
Hannah Yoon@yoonreads
5 stars
Mar 23, 2024
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Michaela Hudson@mimiisreading
5 stars
Mar 14, 2024
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Ana Luiza@anaelin
5 stars
Mar 1, 2024
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Julie Rubens@julierubens
4 stars
Feb 15, 2024
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Francesca Starecheski@cescastar
5 stars
Jan 22, 2024
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Ally@allygatr
4 stars
Jan 10, 2024
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camille peiffer@camillepeiffer
4 stars
Jan 8, 2024
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esperanza @espymagana
5 stars
Jan 7, 2024
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Valeria M@valerievandyne
3 stars
Dec 18, 2023
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Sam@parchmentandflour
5 stars
Nov 19, 2023
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Jule@julesandherbooks
4 stars
Oct 22, 2023
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Emma Prins@emmaprins
4.5 stars
Sep 29, 2023
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Lara Engle@bzzlarabzz
4 stars
Aug 23, 2023
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Patricia Nelson@tnelson577
5 stars
Aug 23, 2023
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Kaitlyn Wendler@kaitlynwendler
4 stars
Aug 10, 2023
Honest
Powerful
Meaningful
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Briar's Reviews@briarsreviews
3 stars
Jul 31, 2023
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Bi@mytileneve
5 stars
Jun 28, 2023
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claire law@clairelaw
5 stars
Jun 19, 2023
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Quydasha Allen @quydashaaa
4 stars
May 12, 2023
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jinni@dearjinni
4 stars
Apr 30, 2023
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Claire Cantlon@xoclairebear34
3 stars
Apr 16, 2023
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Alexis Prowell@alexisprowell
4.5 stars
Apr 14, 2023
Candid
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Victoria@veespages
5 stars
Apr 8, 2023
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Bookworm@cheesecake
4 stars
Feb 8, 2023
Deep

Highlights

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Ellie @elliehutty
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